Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin made history with Pramac in 2024 as the first rider to win the title for an independent team in the MotoGP era, before he joined Aprilia for the 2025 campaign.
The 27-year-old jumped at the chance to join Aprilia and become a factory rider after Ducati overlooked promoting him from Pramac in favour of signing Marc Marquez from Gresini. He joined Aprilia with a two-year contract to replace Aleix Espargaro, as his close friend retired.
Martin would not defend his first MotoGP title upon joining Aprilia in 2025, as the Spaniard endured three layoffs due to injury. Altogether, he fractured his right hand, left foot and left hand, broke 11 ribs and his collarbone and suffered a life-threatening hemopneumothorax.
The hemopneumothorax that Martin sustained on his first return from injury in 2025 at the Qatar Grand Prix even saw him reconsider his commitment to Aprilia. Martin agreed to join Honda from 2026 on a three-year contract, but Aprilia would not permit his release clause.
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Jorge Martin will only negotiate contracts for 2027 with factory MotoGP teams
Martin and Aprilia have repaired their burnt bridges since he agreed to stay in Noale for the 2026 season. CEO Massimo Rivola has also confirmed that Aprilia are open to giving Martin a new contract to keep him at the team when they enter the 850cc regulations era in 2027.
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But SPEEDWEEK reports that while Martin is ‘highly sought after’ among MotoGP teams for 2027, his ‘disastrous’ 2025 campaign has pushed the Madrid native down the pecking order. Instead, Aprilia’s priority is finalising a new contract to retain Marco Bezzecchi beyond 2026.
Martin is clear that he will only negotiate with factory teams for 2027 if Aprilia ultimately do not retain his services. The eight-time MotoGP Grand Prix winner spent his first four years in the class with a satellite team in Pramac, so he does not want to now lose his factory status.
Honda, Yamaha and Pramac are interested in Aprilia rider Jorge Martin for 2027
Aprilia rider Martin does not believe now is the right time to discuss his future, as he feels it is “important” to look forward to the campaign ahead as he strives to bounce back from last year’s injury problems. But the MotoGP rider market is set to start much earlier this season.
Only Honda and Yamaha currently have any riders under contract for 2027. Honda have LCR duo Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira tied down on multi-year deals for their satellite squad. Toprak Razgatlioglu will debut in MotoGP with Pramac in 2026 on a two-year Yamaha deal.
Given the status of the market, Aprilia CEO Rivola believes Honda and Yamaha are trying to sign Martin and Bezzecchi. He claims the rival Japanese manufacturers are offering the pair “very important” wages to leave Aprilia at the start of the 850cc MotoGP regulations cycle.
Also, team manager Gino Borsoi has confirmed that Pramac are “ready” to welcome Martin back if the Spaniard wanted to return to “his family”. Ducati placed Martin at Pramac for his MotoGP debut in 2021, but the Bologna Bullets never promoted him to their factory squad.
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